THE COOT 41 



Colour above black, lesser coverts purplish blue, first primary greyish 

 blue; tail black; neck and under surface of body purplish blue; lower 

 abdomen and thighs black; vmder tail coverts white, frontal plate, bill 

 legs and feet red. Total length 16 inches, eulmen and frontal shield 3, 

 wing 10.5, tail 3.9, tarsus 3.7, middle toe and claw 4.5. 



Nest usually built of aquatic plants, leaves, &e., in swamps, 

 generally close to the water, either on rushes or brushwood. 



Buller. 

 Bald Coot: Porphyrio melanonotus. 



They lay from four to seven eggs, which are of a greenish stone 

 colour with brown markings of different shades ; these measure 

 about 1.95 X 1.43 inch. 



The Coot. 



Fulica australis. 



Australia and Tasmania. 



Colour above grey with olive shade; under tail coverts black, with 

 a line of white feathers round the bend of the wing; bill bluish grey; iris 

 red. Total length 14 inches, eulmen from base of shield 1.2, wing 7.2, 

 tail 1.8, tarsus 2.1, middle toe and claw 3.4. 



